Vanished Sisters: The Lycan King's Slave Island Chapter 96

Natasha's POV

Lucy sat down on the edge of my cot, her expression serious.

"There's something called a Fated Mate," she said. "It's rare. Very rare. But sometimes a Lycan male will find a specific female that he's destined to bond with. The connection is instant. Powerful. Unbreakable."

My heart was pounding. "I don't understand."

"The male can sense his fated mate," Lucy continued. "Can feel her emotions. Communicate with her mentally when the bond is strong enough. And during her heat cycles, the pull between them is almost irresistible."

She looked at me intently.

"I think you might be the Lycan King's fated mate."

The room was silent.

"That's impossible," Davelina said flatly. "He's a monster. A beast. He can't—"

"It's not impossible," Lucy interrupted. "It's rare for a Lycan to have a fated mate. Most never find them. But when they do—especially with an Endurer—the bond is incredibly strong."

She looked back at me.

"Can you feel him?" she asked. "Even now? Can you sense him somehow?"

I closed my eyes and concentrated.

And yes. There it was. A presence at the edge of my consciousness. Dark and powerful and undeniably there.

The King. I could feel him. Even from this distance.

"Oh God," I whispered. "Yes. I can feel him. What does this mean?"

"It means you're bound to him," Lucy said softly. "Connected. He'll be able to find you anywhere. Feel your emotions. Know when you're in heat. And you—you'll be drawn to him. Especially during your heat cycles."

"No," I said. "No, that can't be right. I can't be—I won't be—"

But even as I protested, I kind of knew it was true. Knew it in my bones.

The next few days passed in a blur of exhaustion and pain. My body ached everywhere—but thankfully, the injuries from this encounter with the King were far less severe than last time.

Whatever had changed between us—whatever this "bond" was—it had made him more careful. More gentle. Relatively speaking.

By the second day, I could walk without limping. Could do my assigned work without collapsing.

And everywhere I went, I heard the whispers.

"The King hasn't called for anyone in two weeks."

"He's quieter. Calmer. The rage seems to have subsided."

"No more screaming from his Den. No more dead girls being carried out."

It was true. The King's violent episodes had stopped. No slaves were being fed to him. No bodies were being disposed of.

*Because of me,* I realized. *Because he has me now. His fated mate. He doesn't need anyone else.*

The thought should have made me happy. Fewer women dying was undeniably good.

But it also filled me with a strange sense of possessiveness that I didn't want to examine too closely.

On the third day after my heat, everything changed.

We were all summoned—every female slave in the fortress, along with some of the male ones. Gathered in the main courtyard where Madam Victoria stood on a raised platform.

Her expression was severe as always, but there was something else there too. Excitement, maybe. Or satisfaction.

"Listen carefully," she announced. "I have important news regarding your futures."

The courtyard fell silent.

"For years now, all female slaves have been conscripted for service to the King," Victoria continued. "His... condition made it necessary. None of you could be traded or sold. All were needed to satisfy his needs."

She paused, letting that sink in.

"But circumstances have changed. The King's rage has subsided. His violent episodes have ceased. He no longer requires a constant supply of females."

A murmur went through the crowd. Hope. Fear. Confusion.

"Therefore," Victoria said, "the Lords and nobles have decided to reopen the slave trade. Starting tomorrow, selected slaves will be auctioned to the highest bidder. You may be bought outright or rented for specific periods. This is the way things were before the King's madness, and this is how they will be again."

My stomach dropped.

*Auction. They're going to auction us off like cattle.*

"The following slaves have been selected for tomorrow's auction," Victoria continued. She pulled out a scroll and began reading names.

Female names. Eight of them. I held my breath, waiting.

*Please not Davelina. Please not Lucy. Please—*

Neither of their names were called. Relief flooded through me.

*Thank God. They're safe. For now.*

"And now, the male slaves," Victoria said. "As per the request of certain nobles who prefer... different pleasures... some of you will also be available for purchase."

She read off several names. Young boys, mostly. Pretty ones.

I tuned it out, just grateful that my sister and Lucy were safe.

And then I heard it.

"Nathan."

My blood turned to ice.

*No. No, no, no—*

But Victoria was already moving on. Reading the final instructions. Explaining where we were to report and when.

I stood frozen in place, my mind reeling.

*I'm going to be auctioned tomorrow. Sold to the highest bidder.*

*And if my disguise is discovered—if anyone realizes I'm female—*

I would be dead. We would all be dead.

Around me, the other selected slaves were reacting with varying degrees of fear and resignation. Some crying. Some standing stoically. All knowing their fates were now completely out of their hands.

Lucy grabbed my arm. "Natasha—"

"I know," I whispered. "I know."

Davelina's face was white with fury and fear. "We'll figure something out. We'll—we'll find a way to—"

But there was nothing to do. Nowhere to run. No way to refuse.

Tomorrow, I would stand on an auction block.